CHAPTER ELEVEN
Silence filled the car while they drove into town. Under a bright blue sky, trees displayed their fall plumage and waved gaily in the light breeze. Penny refused to let the situation defeat her. Or, the withdrawn attitude of her companion.
He’s really scared. The realization blindsided her. He’s as worried about keeping the ranch as I am about reclaiming it. She glanced at him. His profile was rock hard, the planes of his face taut.
“Jake?” When he glanced her way then turned back to face forward, she said, “I don’t know how, but I know things will be okay about this man who claims the ranch is his. You know my land grant is real.”
“Thinking it doesn’t make it so.”
“I know, but if the expert knows anything, he’ll see my land grant is genuine.”
“But what if he doesn’t? What if this so-called expert rules in favor of the other grant?”
She shrugged. “Guess then you’d have to find a couple of other experts to contradict the first one. Reckon the court would take the best two out of three opinions.”
His knuckles were white where they gripped the wheel. “So where the hell does that leave you . . . and me?
“I don’t know. But I know I have to adjust to this time and learn how to get along here.” She leaned her head against the back of the seat. “What if I wake up some morning and I’m back in my time? What if I wake up in some other time? Worse, what if some day I crumble into dust and ashes? I’ve been around almost 150 years.”
He sent her a glance with worry-filled eyes. “Don’t dwell on it. You’re here to stay. Concentrate on fitting in.”
“Fit in? Easy for you to say.” No way was she giving up in this lifetime, just like she wouldn’t give up in her other life. Lord help us, was there an answer that wouldn’t kill one of them? Nothing came to her.
Penny respected Jake. He was a fine looking man. He’d built her ranch into an amazing business. Adding cutting horses was something she and Daddy hadn’t thought of. Their horse stock was only for ranch use. Sitting next to Jake now, she wished they were permanent allies instead of only temporarily.
She slanted a peek at him that reinforced her opinion he was the handsomest man she’d ever met. Bart and Caleb were good looking, but Jake had them both beaten a mile in looks. She wondered what he was like when he wasn’t worried out of his mind. Did he laugh a lot? His face suggested frequent smiles, yet she’d not seen that side of him.
They arrived at a small brick building whose sign announced Terry Springs Observer. Jake parked and they went into the office. Nothing suggested presses or typesetting, but a pleasant looking young woman worked at the front desk.
She had the long, thick eyelashes Penny noticed on the women at the bank. Her cheeks were smooth and her lips a pretty shade of rose. Women in this time had learned a lot about looking pretty. Penny decided she’d ask Sally, especially about those eyelashes.
Jake smiled at the woman. “Hi, Sheila. We’re looking for a copy of the antique gun display article from this spring’s Pioneer Celebration.”
Beaming at him, the woman he’d called Sheila smoothed her hair. “That would be in this year’s archived papers. I keep telling the boss he needs to get these scanned and on the web, but he just glares at me.”
Sheila rose and flounced down a short hallway. “In here are this year’s papers filed by week. Please be careful not to tear the pages. Let me know if you need any help, y’ hear?” After a seductive pose, the woman turned and left.
Jake paced down the rack. “Our Pioneer Celebration was in May, but I don’t remember the date.” He took a file off the spindle. “We can start with this one.” He laid the large holder on the table and sat. He turned pages quickly.
“I’ll look in the next group.” Penny repeated Jake’s actions. The headlines tempted her to read but she scanned the stories.
After trading his file for the next one, Jake slapped his palm on the table. “Here it is. See this?”
Penny read the story. Sure enough, her father’s name was there. “But where are his guns? I don’t see them in this photo.”
“Let me see.” Jake grabbed a magnifying glass from the table’s center. Examining each of the firearms in the photo, he stopped. “Look at this rifle.”
Penny peered through the glass to where Jake pointed. “Nope. Not Daddy’s. See, the stock is plain.”
Their faces were inches apart. She longed to lean into him, know the taste of his lips again, and experience their pressure against hers. He leaned forward and his mouth opened. Just when she thought he would kiss her, he jerked away. His eyes wide, he stepped back.
“Damn.” Breathing rapidly, he leaned over the newspaper. “Um, yeah . . . um, the reporter’s name is Zelma Dennis.” He took a deep breath. “Hmm, I think that’s Hank Dennis’ mom. I’ll ask Sheila.”
He closed the file and slid it back into its slot.
At the front desk, Sheila supplied a phone number for Zelma Dennis. “Anything else I can get for you, Jake?” She leaned forward to furnish a peep at her cleavage. “Anything at all?”
He shoved the slip of paper into his pocket. “Huh? No, Thanks, this is all we needed.”
“You come back real soon, Jake, y’ hear? Oh, you too, Ma’am.”
On the way to the car, Penny asked, “You always ignore those invitations?”
He frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“Sheeeeila.” She mimicked the woman’s sultry voice. “Anything else I can get for you? You come back real soon, y’ hear?”
She had to grin. “Didn’t you pick up on her adoring gaze, her sultry invitation, or her leaning forward to give you a peep show?”
“Sheila? Are you crazy? I’ve known her since high school. She’s just an old friend.”
Penny rolled her eyes. “Old friend? Ha. Not because she doesn’t want more.”
“You’re talking crazy. I’ve never even been out with her.” He pulled out his phone and punched in numbers.
Penny didn’t understand how cell phones worked any more than faxes. So many things in this life puzzled her. Would she ever learn all the new things? No wonder her head ached and her stomach clenched in burning knots.
Dear Lord in Heaven, what is going to happen to me?
Jake shoved his phone back into his pocket. “Mrs. Dennis will see us now. It’s not far.”
“What can she tell you?”
Jake started the car and backed into the street. “For one thing, she can tell us why she mentioned your father’s guns if they weren’t in the exhibit.”
With a huge sigh, Penny resigned herself to another test of character. At least now he and Bart believed her. She danged sure didn’t want to go through this every time she met someone new, so maybe this was a good idea.
They drove a few blocks and stopped in front of a large Victorian home similar to hers. Her spirits climbed from the dungeon. “This is where the McGradys lived.”
“Now it’s where Zelma Dennis lives. Listen, let me do the talking.”
Mrs. Dennis waited for them in the doorway. “Why hello, Jake. You didn’t tell me you were Howard’s son, but I see the resemblance.”
“This is Penny Hardeman. We appreciate you seeing us.”
When they were inside and seated in the parlor, Jake pulled out his notes. “You wrote the article on the gun exhibit at the Pioneer Celebration, is that right?”
“Oh, yes, and most of the other articles about the celebration. I love Texas history, especially about Terry County. I believe you said you had a question.”
“About the gun exhibit. You mentioned Harmon Terry’s guns.”
Penny leaned forward. Jake could get mad at her if he wanted, but this was too important for her to keep silent. “He was mentioned, but we didn’t see his guns in the photo.”
“My, how could you tell that from the photo?” Without waiting for an answer, Mrs. Dennis said, “Well, you’re correct, but Terry was so important to our history that I simply had to mention him. No one knows what happened to his guns after his daughter disappeared.” She adjusted her glasses and peered at Penny. “You certainly look a lot like his daughter, Dear, and have the same first name. Are you a relative?”
Jake jumped like he’d been poked with a stick. “Distant. Very distant.”
Yeah, over a hundred years distant. “I’m visiting at the ranch.”
Jake persisted like a dog with a bone, “So you can confirm Harmon Terry’s guns weren’t in the photo, but you did mention him in the article?”
“That’s right.”
Penny leaned toward Mrs. Dennis. “Are you related to the McGrady family?”
“Why yes, how did you know?” Mrs. Dennis tilted her head and smiled eagerly at Penny.
Penny panicked. She should have kept her mouth shut like Jake wanted. “Um . . . I’ve been reading up on the local history at the library, especially the mid 1890’s and forward.”
Mrs. Dennis beamed. “It’s so nice to meet a young person who’s interested in history. My great-grandfather built this house in 1889. It was a real showplace then.”
Reassured, Penny peered around the room. “It still is. Everything looks as it did when it was new.” Just as she remembered from the times she and Daddy had visited James and Hazel McGrady. She fought back tears. Why did all that have to change? Why did Daddy have to die?
“She means you’ve faithfully restored it and it looks as it would have when new.” Jake sent Penny a Be. Quiet. glare.
Mrs. Dennis shot Jake a perplexed glance. “Well, of course she does, and she’s right. We tried to replicate the original wallpapers and furnishings. Most of the furniture was still in the family, but my Hank Sr. and I searched antique shops for replacements for anything that had gone missing.”
“You did a lovely job.” Penny blinked and took a deep breath to steady herself. “Mrs. Dennis, what made you say I look like Penny Terry?”
“In addition to that portrait in the Knight home, there are a few photos in the museum. One I especially love is of her with her dad not long before he died. They looked truly happy.”
We were. “The museum? I’d love to see that. Where is it?” Suddenly, she craved seeing that photo of her and Daddy more than keeping her ranch. Could she have the photo?
“That’s lovely, Dear. The museum is in the old mercantile building. Jake will show you where it is.”
“Thank you.” Penny closed her eyes against the pain. No one had to show her. Hadn’t she shopped there a thousand times when it belonged to Grandpa then Uncle Charles and after her cousin Charlie ran it into the ground and had to sell?
Jake stood. “Thanks for seeing us on such short notice. Appreciate it.”
“Come back anytime. I’m always eager to talk local history.” Mrs. Dennis led them to the front door.
Back outside, Penny and Jake climbed into the car. She waved to Mrs. Davis as they drove away. “Can we stop at the museum?”
For a few minutes, Penny thought Jake wasn’t going to answer. “Sure, but some other day. Right now we have business.” He pulled into the bank parking lot and stopped the car. He slumped and exhaled.
His tanned face had taken on a gray, taut look. “I don’t see how this can be settled. We can’t both own the same damned ranch. The will has been set into effect and that means I’m the owner until I have a son—or daughter—to take over.”
Sympathy for him wouldn’t help her win. She shook her head even though his eyes were closed. “Jake, my grandfather started that ranch and handed it down to my daddy and he handed it to me. I worked all my life helping build it into a fine ranch.”
He opened his eyes and sat up. “You think I haven’t? Ever since I could walk, I’ve been drilled on my responsibilities, how to manage the ranch, how to expand. And I’ve done a damned fine job.”
“Yes, you have. Remember our truce, Jake. Let’s don’t argue anymore.” All 120 years closed in on her and she wanted to beat her head against the window in frustration. Instead she realized where they were. “What’s our business here?”
“You wanted to see about your money. Even though I don’t mind paying for anything you want or need, I believe you’ll be happier with cash of your own.” He unhooked his seat belt. “Caleb’s car is here so he’s back. Let’s go talk to him.”
“Thank you.” She climbed out of the car and her heart lightened.
If she had money, she could hire her own attorney. She wondered how much they charged now. Mr. Clark, that greedy cheat, had charged five dollars just to make out Daddy’s will.
She recalled her shopping expedition with Sally to buy clothes and reckoned lawyers’ charges had probably increased a lot too. Dadburnit, she had over five thousand dollars. That was bound to be more than enough for the greediest lawyer, yet still leave her plenty of capital for living expenses.
They walked to the bank and straight back to Caleb’s office.
Jake waved at the secretary, but didn’t stop until he and Penny were inside Caleb’s office with the door closed. “Caleb, we have to talk about her damn money. Maybe that’s the one thing we can get settled today.”
Caleb checked his watch. “Sure, I can spare a few minutes now on such a lovely day from hell. Have a seat.”
She sat but didn’t waste any time. “I want my money. At least some of it.”
Caleb faced her. “Penny, this is complicated. When you disappeared, Earl didn’t want you to lose control of your money in case you showed back up.”
He shrugged. “Apparently, he thought you might have been kidnapped, or injured, and maybe had amnesia.”
“Why is that complicated? I’ve shown back up.” She had a feeling bad news was on its way.
“Well, when you hadn’t shown up by the time he married, he set up this foundation in your name, using your money. Through the years it’s grown, and has helped a lot of people.”
“But?” She narrowed her eyes. He’d better not try to cheat her.
“I don’t know how to go about explaining. This bank. . . well, Jake, Bart and I are the trustees and administer the foundation. Debbie Fraser sorts through the applications and lets us know when there’s one that sounds genuine.” He shook his head. “You wouldn’t believe some of the scams people come up with to try to get a grant.”
She raised her eyebrows. “Anything like time travel?”
Jake chortled. “That’s about the only one that hasn’t been tried.”
Caleb met her gaze. “What I’m trying to say is, all the money isn’t . . . well, it’s tied up in that foundation.”
“If you can give my money to other women when they need it, why can’t you give me my money?”
“For starters, we can’t just withdraw it. Earl was a smart man, and he locked everything in place. Penny, I mean everything.”
Her hands gripped the arms of her chair so hard the scrollwork cut into her palms. “Are you trying to cheat me out of what’s mine? If you are, I can tell you it’s a waste of time. I aim to get my money back. No—”
Caleb held up a hand to stop her. “I have a proposition for you.”
Her eyes narrowed again. She supposed the trustees of a bank had to be efficient, but she didn’t like Caleb near as much as she liked Jake. “What kind of proposition?”
“Instead of Jake, Bart and me deciding who gets what, we could set you up in charge of the foundation with a nice salary. That would give you money to live on plus a place in the community.”
Jake shook his head. “She doesn’t know anything about business. Can’t even turn on a computer. Doesn’t even know how to drive a car or fill a gas tank.”
Penny’s temper flared. Did Jake think she was stupid? “Hey, reckon I can learn. I’ve been keeping records for my ranch since I was ten years old. Longer counting the two years Daddy was teaching me. I kept all the books—the expenses, the blood lines, paid the hands, bought supplies. That’s knowing about business.”
She turned to Caleb. “I-I just don’t know that I’d want to work here all the time. I like living and working on a ranch.”
He chuckled. “So does Jake. Debbie can bring the applications to you at the ranch. Surely Jake could share the study.” He turned toward Jake. “We’ll all have to give a little here, Jake. She’s not going away, at least as far as we know.”
“That’s right, I’m not. Not unless I wake up in another era tomorrow.”
“Hell, I guess it won’t kill me. Her father’s old desk is in the attic. We can move it back to the study.” He raised his brows at her. “Unless you want a new set up like mine.”
“No, my old desk will do me fine.”
“That’s easy, then. You can use a corner of the study.” He pointed a finger at her. “Remember, no messing with my stuff.”
Ignoring Jake’s warning, she faced Caleb. “I’d still get a salary? As a trustee, I mean?”
“Yeah, you would.” Caleb nodded. “’Course it would have to be paid by the foundation.”
“I’ll do it.” Penny wondered how this foundation could have enough to pay this Debbie’s salary and her and still have money to give away. “How much money is in the foundation now?”
Caleb consulted his computer, and then pinched the bridge of his nose. “Remember I told you interest has accrued. As of today, there’s $2,867,465.41 in the account.”
“Two . . . Two . . .” The room spun, strange spots danced in front of her. She gasped for breath but couldn’t inhale.
Jake pushed her head between her legs. “Take deep breaths. Slowly. You should know the drill by now.”
When her breathing returned to normal, she raised her head. “How could that be?”
Caleb handed her a glass of water. “Interest over the years. Even though rates have varied, the principal has never been touched. Now we only award grants from the interest.”
“I see.” But she didn’t. She took a swallow of water to stall for time while she thought. What kind of interest turned under six thousand to almost three million?
The numbers hit her and she almost spilled what was left in her water glass. “I’m wealthy, I’m a millionaire.”
Caleb shook his head. “No, you’re not. The foundation terms are ironclad, Penny. No one can break them. Believe me, several have tried. You’ll have to be satisfied with a salary.”
“How much salary?” He’d durn well better say more than a few hundred dollars.
He glanced at Jake, then back to Penny. “What would you say to seventy K until you get the hang of things?”
“What’s a K?” Penny stared at one man and then the other.
They’d better not try pulling a fast one on her. This K had better be at least a dollar. That much a month might not be so bad. Chewing on her lip, she remembered the price tags on the clothes Sally had insisted she buy. No way would seventy dollars a month last long in this life—not even that much a week would go far.
Jake glared at Caleb then faced her. “K means thousand. Seventy thousand dollars a year until you’re established is far too much, but he’s already made the offer.” He turned back toward his cousin. “It should have been a Board decision, Caleb. That’s too much money for her to handle.”
She agreed it was too much. Too much salary and too much money in the foundation. Good thing she was sitting down. The room was dancing again so she took another swallow of water.
Caleb held up his hand to stop Jake. “Let’s take a breather, Cuz. Debbie and the three of us Knights can guide Penny. You heard her, she knows how to keep books and records. That’s what this job is, plus a little savvy decision making.”
“How the hell can you explain her to Debbie? You think this won’t start nasty rumors?”
“So what? People may think one of us is her sugar daddy. If she doesn’t mind, why should you?”
Penny leaped up. “What’s a sugar daddy? If that means what I think it means, I’m warning you no one had better think I’m a light skirt. I earn my own way.”
“I never said you couldn’t do the job.” Jake poked his finger at her. “I said people will get the wrong idea about why you’re in charge of the foundation. Hell, living at the ranch with two single men, and then you suddenly get promoted to a plush job. What would you think?”
Heaving a sigh, Penny knew Jake was right. “I see what you mean. Everything here is so complicated.”
“Complicated here?” Jake raised his brows. “At least no one here is shooting at you.”
Caleb checked his watch again. “I have an appointment in five minutes so I have to rush you two out of here. Penny, I’ll brief you on the job another day. Jake can fill you in and get that desk moved into the study.”
Jake stood and slapped his leg with his hat. “Why the hell not? All I have to do is run an 8,000-acre ranch and figure out how to hold on to it. What could possibly prevent me from finding time to move furniture and play teacher.”
Penny bristled, but before she could reply that she didn’t need his help, she realized she did. His and Bart’s and Sally’s. Even Caleb’s.
Caleb opened his office door. “Goodbye, I’ll talk to you two later.”
She and Jake walked to the car. Jake clenched his jaw so taut it was a wonder his teeth didn’t shatter. They got into the car and he started it while she was still fastening her seat belt. Neither of them spoke on the ride home.
She couldn’t get over it. Seventy thousand dollars a year for sittin’ at a desk? What kind of world had she come to? When she and Daddy had built their house, they’d felt reckless spending four thousand dollars plus another two thousand for furnishings. Her mind couldn’t wrap around a huge sum like the salary she’d been offered, even if it was her own money.
At least she figured it was.
As gruff as Jake was at times, he’d sure been nice last night. She couldn’t push the thought of his arms around her from her mind. Or his kiss that melted her bones.
“Jake, do you remember when I was scared and you held me until I went to sleep?”
He glanced at her. “Do I remember? You mean the taste of your lips? The scent that lingers in your hair? The softness of your skin? The way our bodies fit together perfectly? Hmm, I might remember if I put my mind to work.”
She smiled at him, happy to know she had affected him at least a little. “Thank you for staying with me. To you, I probably seemed silly and maybe immature. I was terrified, which I am a lot now. Your kindness meant a lot to me.”
“You’re a strange woman, Penelope Jane Terry. I think you’re growing on me.”
“Good. Maybe you won’t be as eager to get rid of me.”
After a few minutes, she decided to ask about something that had been bothering her. “When Earl married, did he love his wife?”
“Supposedly, it was a marriage of convenience but he grew to love her and she loved him. From what’s come down in the family, they were a happy couple. I don’t know what she thought of his obsession with your memory.”
“I’m glad he was happy. He was a good man.”
They drove past a sign that announced a turkey shoot. Penny turned to stare at the sign. “Did you see that? Someone’s having a turkey shoot. Couldn’t read the date.”
Without looking at her, he answered, “Saturday. Optimist Club has one every year. You interested in entering? Maybe make good on your claim you can outshoot any man?”
“Sounds interesting. How much does it cost to enter?” She hadn’t started drawing that big salary yet.
“Fifty bucks.”
A huge amount when you had nothing in your pocket. She blew out a huge breath.
Jake glanced her way. “Tell you what. I’ll pay both our entry fees and we’ll see how good a shot you really are.”
She grinned at him. “What’s my prize gonna be?” Maybe she could win enough to tide her over until payday.
He smiled at her and for a change his blue eyes sparkled. “I’ll win a hundred dollars and a turkey.”
“Ha, that’ll be the day.” She thought about the turkey shoot, though. She was a durn good shot, the best in the county in her time. “That’s a high entry fee for a hundred dollar prize.”
“Proceeds go for charity. Thanksgiving food baskets for the needy. Prize is mostly for bragging rights all year.”
“That’s okay then. Daddy and I used to help the church make up baskets at Thanksgiving and Christmas.” She smiled at him. “I’ll use my daddy’s Winchester. What about you?”
“Good thing they’re not real turkeys or you’d blow the bird clean apart.” He laughed. “Maybe I’ll use my daddy’s Winchester.”
What kind of contest used a pretend bird? “You shoot at fake turkeys?”
“We shoot at a paper turkey on a target board.” He glanced her way and raised an eyebrow. “More humane. This way, there’s only one turkey and it’s already dressed and ready for the oven.”
She nodded, changing her mind about the contest. “That’s nice. I sure hate plucking a bird and smelling feathers in scalding water.”
He laughed. “You sound like you’re sure you’ll win.”
“You bet I am.” She smiled at him. “I’ll show you some fine shooting, Jake Knight.”
“Then we’ll likely tie, Penny Terry. I mean Hardeman.”
The air whooshed out of her. “I wish I didn’t have to lie to folks.”
“Don’t we all?” They pulled in to the garage. He sat a minute after the car died. “How about a wager on which of us is the best shot?”
“What kind of wager?” She hoped he’d say he wanted a kiss.
“Hmm. How about the loser takes the winner to dinner in town?” He offered his hand to shake on the deal.
“You have yourself a bet. Better be thinking where you’ll take me to dinner.” She offered her hand to him.
When he took it, he shook it then pulled it to his mouth and kissed her fingers. Her stomach filled with butterflies and warmth pooled in her abdomen. . . and lower. She wanted to scoot toward him and have him kiss her lips. When he tugged her toward him, she slid without resistance.
His lips brushed hers and then the pressure increased. She slid her arms around his neck and wished they could stay here kissing forever.
He broke the embrace, his breath ragged and in gasps. “Think I’d better change clothes and talk to Rowdy. You find that desk. I’ll ask a couple of the hands to help move it down to the study.”
Penny searched out Sally to tell her they were back and see if Sally needed help with anything. After hearing the afternoon’s events, Sally sent her off to change clothes and locate the desk.
Penny hurried up the stairs. She reached her door as Jake came around the corner from his room. He shoved his shirt into his jeans as he walked toward her.
“You look like a different man.” But still handsome as sin.
“I am.” He smiled. “Always feel more myself in these clothes than a suit.”
Surprised, she said, “Me, too. I’ll be glad to get out of these things.”
Mischief sparkled in his eyes and he leaned near her. “Need some help?”
She felt the heat of a blush from remembering that he’d seen her naked as the day she was born and that they’d just exchanged bone melting kisses. “No, thank you.”
He tut tutted. “Too bad. See you later.”
Penny changed into her new jeans and old boots and pulled on a sapphire blue knit top. She hung her new slacks in the wardrobe and folded the sweater neatly before sliding it into a drawer of the chest. She rushed upstairs to the attic. Would her desk still contain any of the things she remembered?